Traveling to Spain anytime soon? Not only will the sites and the great weather amaze you, but you are in for an even bigger treat when it comes to food. Whether you are looking for a Michelin star restaurant or some cheap tapas, Barcelona has it all. Each region of Spain is known for its specialty of food, so don’t leave without trying it all. Here is a list of the top 8 foods that you must try in Spain.

Paella

No Spain vacation is complete without trying a fresh plate of paella. This rice and seafood dish is the number one food that Barcelona is known for and can be found at most major restaurants. They also offer chicken paella or strictly vegetables if you are a vegetarian! If you want to taste the best, here is a guide to the best Paella in Barcelona.

Tapas

When arriving in Spain, tapas and sangria should be the first meal you sit down to. If you don’t know what they are, tapas are small dishes of food that are typically served with drinks. They are the most common Spanish meal and can be found in every city across the country. The best way to get a real feel for Spain is to come hungry and order a lot! The plates are small and super cheap so make sure you order a few!

Patatas Bravas

This dish is very common in tapas bars and goes very well with a cold beer. Patatas bravas are cut up cubed potatoes that are baked in oil to give them the perfect crunch. They are then topped off with spicy tomato sauce. These are one of the most commonly ordered tapas, and you can taste why.

Jamón

Jamón is a classic piece of the Spanish diet. If you are unsure what this is, think prosciutto but half the price and just as good. This dish is served in every tapas bar and can be paired with bread, cheese or a piece of melon (my fav). Restaurants and stands also offer to-go cups of Jamón and cheese, so make sure to grab one as you explore the city.

Pa amb Tomaquet

Pa amb Tomaquet, a staple part of the Spanish diet. If you’re a fan of bruschetta, this is a good choice for you. You will find this in every restaurant as it is hands down one of the most popular foods in Spain. This dish varies a bit between restaurants but it consists of baked bread, tomatoes and olive oil. So yummy.

Tortilla De Patatas

These Spanish omelets are found all throughout Spain and are made from egg, potato, onion, garlic, and olive oil. They are many times served cold as an appetizer, but are even better when they are hot. It’s super delicious and is a must try. These can be found at most tapas restaurants!

Olive Oil

You have never really tasted olive oil until you come to Spain. This is pretty much used in every form of cooking but tastes even better with just a piece of bread. All throughout the city you can find stores that offer premium olive oil. This is personally one of my favorite foods in Barcelona and you absolutely cannot look it over.

Sangria

Your Spanish vacation doesn’t really begin until you order a pitcher or two of sangria. This sweet alcoholic beverage is filled with red wine and fruit and brandy… what could be better? Pretty much every restaurant will offer this drink, in many different forms too! Although it is not super common among locals, is it essential for people coming through.

Now that the weather has started to warm up, I packed up some bathing suits and made my way to the islands of Spain. My first stop: Mallorca. I flew out of Barcelona, so it was a quick 40-minute flight and cost me about 40 euro… roundtrip. Yes, you read that right. Because I decided to travel here in March, a lot of the island was still closed for winter. This also meant not a lot of tourists. We were still able to find amazing restaurants, great beaches and a ton of good outdoor terraces for cocktails. What I didn’t know before my trip was that the island is pretty spread out, so I recommend renting a car! We spent way too much money on taxis.

This being said, do not consolidate yourself to one city. Here is a list of places in Mallorca that are worth seeing.

Towns

1. Palma – The heart of Mallorca and the biggest city on the island. Here you will find a bunch of hotels, shopping spots and places to eat. From experience, this area does not have the most beautiful beaches but it is a convenient area to be close to.

2. Port de Sóller – Hands down, my favorite part of Mallorca. Talk about a cute little town filled with amazing stores, great vibes and really yummy food. It is picturesque and totally worth the trip. Make sure you give yourself a few hours in this little town because it is definitely worth it.

3. Soller – This area is about 40 minutes outside of Palma, but they offer cheap trains that will take you across the island for really cheap.

4. Cala Figuera – Tiny little town with the most amazing beaches. Not much to do other than explore and layout but it’s so beautiful.

Restaurants

We spent most of the trip laying out and eating snacks, so we did not attend that many sit down meals. Two of these restaurants we went to and were awesome, and the rest I was highly recommended.

Max Garden

Il Paradiso

Ola Del Mar

Sakana Sushi

Nola

Temple Natura

Beaches

All across the island, there are beautiful beaches. Some offer crystal clear water, while others are better for tanning and relaxing. Although I obviously could not get to them all, these are a few that you should definitely see.

Playa de Cala Pi

Illetas

Cala d’Or Cala Llamp

Port de Pollença

Cala Mondragó

Activities

To be totally honest, we came into the weekend strictly wanting to relax. It was still a bit cold so many of these things weren’t available yet. But here is a list of activities that are offered on the island, for those of you seeking adventure.

Hiking

Rock Climbing

Stand-up paddleboarding

Exploring Cuevas del Drach ( caves )

ATV

Boat Tour

Shopping

I was honestly a bit unimpressed with the shopping in Mallorca. If you want big chain stores they have a strip of them in downtown Palma, but there were not as many cute boutiques as I had imagined. However, if you do make it down to Port Soller, then are a ton of great stores with woven bags, hats, and other beach necessities. Here is a list of the few stores I was able to find that have really cute stuff!

Beach Boutiques

Kidama, Puerto Portals

Vell Marí

Pink Flamingo Urban Spa & Boutique, Palma

KOS Beach Boutique, Illetas

Mimbreria Vidal* – really cute bag store!

If there is one thing I can emphasize it is to really try to see as much of the island as you can. Rent a car and go explore because each town is so different.

How to Stay Healthy while Studying Abroad

1.) Walk- One of the best things while studying abroad is the amount of walking you do. The first time I was abroad I walked everywhere I went. I had a metro pass but it was much easier to get around on foot. I gave myself extra time in the mornings and it became normal to walk at least 7-8 miles a day. Even if you have an unlimited metro card, make sure you make time in your day to walk around the city. It is a good source of exercise and keeps your body healthy. Incorporate this into your daily schedule and you will see results.

2.) Join a gym– Over the summer I studied abroad for 5 weeks in the Czech Republic. The weather was amazing and since I wasn’t there for long, I decided not to join a gym. At first, I was constantly going on runs through the city, but this began to fade over time. This time around I made it one of my priorities to join a gym. I did some research and found an amazing gym a few blocks from my house. I went ahead and bought a 4-month plan, for the entire time I am here. In my opinion, when you are paying for a membership, you are more inclined to go. I highly suggest joining a gym if you are studying abroad for more than a month. Many offer student discounts and come with a lot of perks, including spas and saunas.

3.) Stock your kitchen with healthy snacks – One thing that I started to notice in college is that if there are snacks around, I will eat them. So the best thing to do is either do not buy them or stock up on healthy snacks. Since I have been in Europe I find myself eating WAY more chocolate than I ever would at home. If you’re strolling down the unhealthy isle at the grocery store, restrain yourself. You might get midnight cravings or a sweet tooth but if you don’t have anything to cure it, you won’t eat it.

4.) Cook your own meals– I cannot emphasize this enough. Learn to cook before you travel across the world by yourself. This will not only save you money, but it will make you feel way better about what you are putting into your body. Although it is fun to go out to eat, this can get tiring after a while. You are aware of exactly what you are putting into your food and you won’t be as tempted to order something unhealthy off the menu.

5.) Save the “splurge” for the weekend– Most weekends during studying abroad are typically spent visiting other cities. This means you will be eating out way more and trying all the best local foods. During the week try to eat as healthy as you can and restrain from empty calorie meals that really aren’t worth it. Each city offers something totally new and the food is definitely worth trying. At home during the week, stick to salads and low-calorie meals so that you can splurge all you want on the weekends.

6.) Drink water- When people say, “wine is cheaper than water” they are not joking. Don’t get me wrong, for the first week in Europe this was amazing. But soon this started to hit me hard. I was constantly dehydrated and my body was feeling it. Make sure to always bring a water bottle around with you no matter what. It is a lot cheaper to buy disposable water bottles than it is to buy water at meals so I suggest stocking up on those at the grocery store. You NEED to be drinking water especially since you are drinking alcohol and doing a lot more walking than usual. It will get annoying constantly paying for water, but the money is worth it.

7.) Bring vitamins- Unfortunately, I figured this out the hard way during my first study abroad experience. After my first couple of weeks exploring Prague, I started to feel very depleted all the time. Although the food wasn’t totally doing it for me, my body was reacting to something else. I soon started to realize I hadn’t been taking my iron pills. The second time around I made sure I had enough vitamins for the full time I was here. Although vitamins are small, it does have a strong effect on your body. Trust me on this one, just bring some.

8.) Take advantage of good weather- Studying abroad in the spring can be a bit difficult when it comes to weather. Every day is honestly a mystery and it is never clear what the weather will be like. Every once in a while you are blessed with a random warm day, so take advantage of this. Walk to school instead of taking the metro, find a park and bring your computer to do some work. It will surprise you how much your body appreciates some fresh air every once in a while.